New Haven Warriors
 |
|
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | New Haven Warriors Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Warriors |
| Colours |
Black Grey |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Exited | 2013 |
| Former details | |
| Ground(s) | |
| Competition | USA Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1 (AMNRL) (2008 (AMNRL)) |
| Runners-up | 2 (1 USARL, 1 AMNRL) (2011 (USARL), 2010 (AMNRL)) |
| Minor premiership | 1 (AMNRL) (2010) |
The New Haven Warriors were a rugby league football team based in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. They played in the American National Rugby League (AMNRL) from 2006 to 2010 and in the USA Rugby League (USARL) from 2011 to 2012 before withdrawing. They played their home games at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven, Connecticut.
The team was established in 2006 as an AMNRL expansion team. In 2011 they became one of seven clubs that withdrew from the AMNRL to form the new USA Rugby League. The Warriors won the 2008 AMNRL Championship and made playoff appearances every year from 2006 to 2011, advancing to the AMNRL Grand Final in 2010 and the USARL Grand Final in 2011. They were named for the New Zealand professional club the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League.
The club was founded for the 2006 AMNRL season by Adam Hamon, Blair Wards, Chris Willey and Tony Feasey. The Warriors management later consisted of Adam Hamon (chairman), Brian Lee (Marketing and Sponsorship), Chris Yeargan (Treasurer), Bill West and Ed Reed (IT), and executive committee members Tony Feasey, Siose Muliumu. In their debut AMNRL season the Warriors side had an impressive inaugural year finishing 5th and within the top tier bracket of the competition and qualifying for the playoff series; however they would eventually be knocked out by the New York Knights in a close encounter that finished 26 - 22.
In 2007 the club again finished 5th and again faced the New York Knights in the playoffs to the final. This time they won 34 - 8 but were eliminated by their interstate rivals and eventual champions the Connecticut Wildcats in the semi finals 42 - 18. The Warriors earned the reputation as the most physical side in the AMNRL, and includes several Maori and Polynesian players from New Zealand. In 2008, the club won the Grand Final, beating the Aston Bulls 50-18 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. They advanced through the semifinal by beating the Connecticut Wildcats 40-34.
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